alabama medical cannabis

Roughly a week after being overwhelmingly approved by Alabama’s full legislature, a measure to legalize the medical use of low-THC cannabis oil has been signed into law by Governor Robert Bentley. Leni’s Law goes into effect on June 1st.

Under the new law, it will be legal for those with a recommendation from a physician to possess and use cannabis oil that has no more than 3% THC. Unfortunately the law doesn’t establish a system of dispensaries to provide patients with a consistent means of accessing their medicine, leaving advocates with plenty to continue fighting for. Still, the new law is clearly a step in the right direction.

Alabama’s full legislature has passed a measure to legalize the medical use of low-THC cannabis oil for those who receive a recommendation from a physician.

The proposal was approved with overwhelming bipartisan support: the vote was 95 to 4 in the House of Representatives, and 29 to 3 in the Senate. The bill now goes to Governor Robert Bentley for consideration.

“This is an opportunity to give some sunlight to families,” said Senator Paul Sanford, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. “They don’t want to feel like criminals, but they know they need to try something like this.”

Legislation to legalize medical cannabis has been passed with a 4 to 3 vote by Alabama’s Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 326 now moves towards a full Senate vote.

If approved into law, the Alabama Medical Marijuana Patient Safe Access Act would allow those with a qualifying condition to possess up to 10 ounces of cannabis, and would allow them to purchase the medicine from state-licensed dispensaries. Conditions that qualify an individual to be a medical cannabis patient under SB 326 includes autism, anorexia, bipolar disorder, cancer, chronic pain, AIDS, ADD/ADHD, migraines, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, post traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The University of Alabama has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin cultivating, administering and studying the impact of low-THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), high-CBD (cannabidiol) cannabis extracts on childhood and adult seizure disorders.

In April, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed into law Senate Bill 174 which authorizes the University of Alabama’s Department of Neurology to prescribe, produce and distribute low-THC cannabis extracts – such as cannabis oil and tinctures – to those with seizure disorders. The oil must be primarily CBD, and can contain no more than 3% THC.